Bird-trap.



No. 722,794.. P ATBNTBD MAR. 17, 1903. F. E. ALLEN.

BIRD TRAP.

APPLIUATLON FILED JUNE 5, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK E. ALLEN, OF CARNEY, PENNSYLVANIA.

BIRD-TRAP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 722,794, dated March 17, 1903.

Application filed June 5, 1902. Serial No. 110,360. (No model.)

To LZZ whom it may concern.;

Be it known thatI, FRANK E. ALLEN, acitizen of the United States, residing at Carney, in the county of Wyoming and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bird-Traps, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to traps for ensnaring birds and small animals; and it consists of a net that is folded back on itself when set and spread over the victim by means of the pull exerted by coil-springs secured to 'the ends of rope holding one side of the net, the trap being sprung by means of a trigger rop pulled by the trapper. y

The advantages of my invention will fully appear hereinafter and by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a plan view of my invention when set; Fig. '2, a plan Viewy after it is sprung; Fig. 3, a sideV view while the net is spreading over the ensnared victim; and Fig. 4, a side view showing in full lines the position of the net shown in Fig. 1 and in dotted lines the position shown in Fig. 2.A

Referring to the drawings, in which similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, A represents the net used in my invention, which is secured to the ropes B, C, D, and E; The ends of the rope B are extended beyond the sides of the net A and are each secured to a coil-spring F, which is fastened to 'a post G, driven into the ground. The rope E is also extended on each side beyond the junction with the ropes C andD and secured to stakes H H, also driven into the ground.

I I represent stakes having a rectangular notch vl at their tops, driven into the ground at ashort distance on each side of the net A and about one-half the distance betweenVV the ropes B and E.

K K represent stakes set between stakes I I and the rope E and having a projection k on their top, both projections extending in the same direction, in the drawings shown toward the left while standing at rope B and looking toward the rope E. u

L L represent trigger-pieces which rest in the rectangular notches z' t' in the stakes I I and under the extensions 7c 7c of the stakes K K, and have notches Z Zto receive and hold the rope B when the net is set.

M represents the trigger rope, which is pulled by the frapper to spring the trap.

N represent small blocks that may be set under the springs F to keep them off the ground.

The operation of my invention is as follows: To set the trap, the rope B is drawn back against the resilience of the springs F F and inserted in the notches Z Z of the trigger-pieces LL. This folds the net back on itself. The bait is then placed on the ground that is covered by the front part of the net when stretched, and the trapper retires with the end of the trigger-rope M to a place of concealment. When the victim has settled to eat the bait, the trigger-rope is given a pull, which draws the two trigger-pieces L L out from under the projections k lc of the stakes flight if a bird and it should become frightened at the springing of the trap.

' Having thus described my invention, what I claim is l. In a bird-trap, two substantially parallel ropes secured to stakes, one of said ropes having its ends resiliently secured, a net stretched between said ropes, and means to hold said net folded back on itself, substantially as shown and described.

2. Ina bird-trap, a rope having its ends resiliently secured, a rope' substantially parallel therewith having its ends rigidly secured, a net stretched between said ropes, means to hold said resiliently-secured side of the net folded back on the rigidly-secured side, and means to release said resiliently-secured side, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a bird-trap, coil-springs secured to stakes at a distance from one another, a rope stretched between the free ends of said coilsprings, a rope substantially parallel with said spring-held rope rigidly secured to stakes, a net attached to said ropes, means to hold said spring-held rope against the resilience of the springs and the net folded back on itself,

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vmeans to release said rope to the action of said springs, and means to cause the net to describe an arc under the action of said sprin gs,substantial1y as shown and described.

4. In a bird-trap, a rope resiliently secured at its ends to stakes, a rope substantially parallel therewith rigidly secured to stakes, a net attached to said ropes, notched stakes driven at each side of said net, posts driven between said notched stakes and said rigidly-secured rope, a projection on the top of said posts, notched trigger-pieces resting on said notched stakes and under said projections to receive said resiliently-secured rope, and a triggerrope secured to said resiliently-secnred rope, substantially as shown and described.

5. In a bird-trap, coil-springs secured to stakes set at a distance from each other, a rope stretched between said springs, a rope substantially parallel with said spring-held 2o tions on said posts to hold the said rope against the resilience ot' said springs, and a trigger-rope to remove said trigger-pieces from under said projections, snbstantia-llyas shown and described.

In testimony whereof I hereto affix my sig- `nature in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANK E. ALLEN.

Witnesses: Y

WALTER HARLEY, LIZZIE HARLEY. 

